We, the undersigned organizations and members of the #KeepItOn coalition — a global network of more than 345 organizations from 106 countries working to end internet shutdowns —strongly condemn the internet disruptions in the Syrian governorate of Suwayda. We urgently call on the Syrian transitional government to immediately and fully restore internet access and to ensure the protection of people’s right to communicate, organize, and seek safety during times of crisis.
The internet shutdowns and connectivity disruptions in Suwayda occurred in a context of heightened political and sectarian tension that erupted in violence on July 13, 2025. For months, residents of the predominantly Druze region have mobilized, demanding political reforms, economic relief, and the protection of Druze communities in Syria. However, the violent clashes that broke out between local Druze and Bedouin armed groups, and government security forces, exacerbated by Israeli airstrikes, have left over 1,400 people killed, at least 176,000 displaced, and widespread disruption to access to food, water, medicine, fuel, and telecommunications. The shutdowns during these times are a deeply worrying sign in light of reports of journalists being blocked from entering the region and serious human rights abuses, including summary executions and the indiscriminate killings of men, women, and children, kidnapping, attacks on healthcare, as well as the looting and torching of local homes and shops.
Data from the Internet Outage Detection and Analysis (IODA) project confirmed a near-complete loss of internet connectivity in Suwayda since July 14, 2025, consistent with a potential intentional shutdown, one day after the breakout of violence on July 13, 2025. From July 14 through 21, the region experienced a near-total blackout, with connectivity levels reaching close to zero. Only after July 21 did connectivity begin to slightly return, with data showing only a modest uptick. As of July 29, the Active Probing signal on IODA for the region shows connectivity at less than 50% of normal levels at its maximum, indicating that internet access is still significantly disrupted or unusable in Suwayda.
Despite claims by the Syrian Ministry of Communications and Technology that the disruptions were due to “technical and logistical challenges,” including a fuel shortage, multiple accounts from residents and activists indicate that the blackout was deliberate and occurred in parallel with military activity. “The internet shutdown was part of the attack,” people told SMEX.
If the shutdowns have been indeed intentional, this means that the Syrian transitional government has failed one of its first tests when it comes to digital rights. Instead of addressing legitimate grievances, Syrian authorities appear to have responded with repression, including by silencing communication channels. These disruptions and blackouts not only violate fundamental rights, such as the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and peaceful assembly, but also exacerbate violence and put people’s lives and safety at risk. Internet shutdowns also make it extremely difficult for journalists and human rights defenders to monitor and report human rights abuses, thereby enabling perpetrators to cover up these violations with impunity.
Shutdowns also provide fertile ground for the proliferation of mis/disinformation, which can be particularly dangerous in the context of Syria’s fragile transition post Al-Assad’s regime. SMEX reports a surge in false and misleading content circulating across platforms like X and TikTok, including doctored videos, recycled footage, and disinformation aimed at discrediting protests, sowing sectarian division, inciting violence, and creating confusion. These dynamics, when exacerbated by shutdowns, only undermine public trust, incite violence, and contribute to incidents of violence, blackmail, and targeted harassment.
The Syrian authorities have a responsibility to investigate these disruptions and provide reliable, safe, and free internet access to all Syrians, especially in times of crisis and in areas rife with violence, when access to reliable information is critical. The broader pattern of information control and suppression — a tactic that has long been associated with the Al-Assad regime — must end.
We, the undersigned and members of the #KeepItOn coalition, call on the Syrian government to:
- Immediately and unconditionally work to restore full internet access, telecommunications, and electricity in Suwayda and affected areas;
- Refrain from using internet shutdowns and disruptions as tools of repression or collective punishment;
- Uphold and protect the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and access to information;
- Cease surveillance, censorship, and intimidation of protestors and civilians online and offline; and
- Combat the spread of mis/disinformation and hate speech by ensuring transparency in communication and allowing independent media and civil society to report freely and safely on developments in Suwayda and across Syria.
Access to the internet is not a luxury; it’s a lifeline. In moments of unrest, people must be able to share their stories, seek help, and organize for their rights without fear of being disconnected.
Signatories
- Access Now
- Activate Rights
- Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC)
- Africa Open Data and Internet Research Foundation (AODIRF)
- Avocats Sans Frontières France
- Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE)
- Human Rights Journalists Network Nigeria
- iWatch Africa
- JCA-NET
- Kijiji Yeetu
- Koneta Hub – South Sudan
- Life campaign to abolish the death sentence in Kurdistan
- Miaan Group
- Organization of the Justice Campaign
- Skyline International for Human Rights (SIHR)
- SMEX
- Ubunteam
- West African Digital Rights Defenders coalition